Im a little scared that the doctor told me I have to have a monthly B12 shot for a year. I don't like needles, but have to have my blood draw all the time for the lack of thyroid and having crohns. The worst part is that I have to do them myself at home!! Does anyone else have to do B12 shots?

2

__________________
Diagnosed: November 2009
Meds: Prev on Lialda 1.25 mg two pills day
10-27-2011: Started on Pentasa: 4 times a day, 2 caps each time.
Born with out Thyroid & deaf in left ear.

I do them, Quicks...draw the medicine into the syringe and give the shot in my upper thigh. The nurse will show you how, it's not nearly as bad as it seems. Was funny to me that my husband insisted that I NOT do the shot in front of him...and he is diabetic, used to give himself 4 shots a day. But couldn't watch me do mine once every 2 weeks, haa haa

I have them done at the doctor's office and its put into my left deltoid. Its important that it goes in the muscle. Its done with a small thin needle so you hardly feel it at all. I'm pretty sure I'd be able to do it myself but my insurance doesn't allow such things. When done right you don't feel it at all and its much easier than having blood drawn especially when someone's screwing around trying to find a vein. :P

__________________

Diagnosis:Crohn's in 1991 at age 9Surgeries: 1 Small Bowel Resection in 1999; Central IV in 1991-92Meds for CD:6MP 50mgThings I take:Tenormin 25mg (PVCs and Tachycardia), Junel, Tylenol 3, Omeprazole 20mg 2/day, Klonopin 1mg 2/day (anxiety), Restoril 15mg (insomnia), Claritin 20mgCurrently in:REMISSIONThought it was a flare but it's just scar tissue from my resection. Dealing with a stricture. Remission from my resection, 17 years and counting.

One possible option for you in the future - you may be able to take high dose pills instead. I have had a lot of bowel removed, probably 4-5 feet including the terminal ileum where B12 is absorbed. After the first resection, I had an absorption test and needed the needles. Now, I haven't had a needle for B12 in probably 14 years. Your bowel actually can adapt and learn to reabsorb in other areas. In that 14 years, my bloodwork has never shown a B12 deficiency. As others have stated, the shots aren't that bad though. More of a nuisance...

Shamrock, do you have any sources that showcase that the bowel can adapt and learn to absorb B12 in other areas? I haven't read it and it doesn't make sense as that would require the bowel to grow cubam receptors elsewhere. But I'm open to the idea, thus the request

Yes, 1-2% of B12 can be passively absorbed elsewhere thus the possibility of HIGH oral doses. But levels should be monitored extremely closely as that doesn't work for everyone and it's really hard to get levels into the optimal range (above 500pg/ml).

My sources are my personal experience, and supported by my surgeon of many surgeries! I had effectively 0 B12 absorption after my first surgery. I needed B12 for the first couple years after that surgery. My GI at the time had indicated some research indicated that bowel can readjust somewhat, and recommended that I use high dose vitamin supplements (1000 mcg or more). I have not had reason to revert back to the shots since then, about 15 years back. Ongoing blood work have not showed any problems with B12. Couldn't provide specific research articles for it.

My guess would be they were referring to the 1-2% passive absorption. It's only within the last decade or so that they've begun to understand that pathway so I can see how it might be construed that the bowel was adjusting. But I'll keep an eye out for research that says otherwise as that would be very interesting!

Sorry - one other thing to mention. As I did have the same surgeon, he commented after one of the surgeries about changes in the structure of my bowel. He noticed a sort of thickening that was not inflammation that appeared to provide more surface area than I should have, thus increasing the absorption area. This effect also continued to my water absorption and other nutrient absorption as well.

That's amazing! I love how the body does what it needs to do to keep going. Lot's of sharing here I realize, but I had a vasectomy and the doctor removed a full inch of vas deferens on each side. When they went back in a few years later for the reversal, they said the two sides had grown back together. The only reason I wasn't fertile was the doctor had cauterized them as well.